The Art of Noticing

Today I noticed that after a year of recording the Art of Noticing podcast, it’s time to retire it in favor of spending the same creative time on other ventures that better match my creative goals, rather than continuing “just because I’ve been doing it so far.” The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that there are two main reasons to do anything you’re not outright required to do: 1) be...

Today I noticed that the best way to truly see the value of and best ways to do something is to stop doing that thing entirely for a while. When I return to that thing, even if it felt important when I stopped, I sometimes realize there's no point in doing it at all anymore. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that taking a step back and allowing ourselves to disengage from a practice...

Today I noticed that when I write a blog post, I sometimes think it will be incoherent or not that good, but when I'm at the end and read them fully, they're always much, much better than I expected. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that we can be poor judges of our own work in the midst of creating it. By persisting through self-doubt, the final product often reveals itself as mor...

Today I noticed that on expressways embankments, the grass appears to have been mowed almost vertically, or at least at extreme angles. I'd think the mowers would tip over. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that there are often ingenious solutions to challenges we're unaware of that defy our assumptions about apparent limitations or risks. WANT MORE? Members at johnnybtruant.substac...

Today I noticed that sometimes, it's actually not best to "get to work and get it done." Sometimes, the drive to plow through work is counterproductive, and I should instead obey my desire to do what feels like "slacking off." The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that conventional productivity wisdom doesn't always apply. Respecting our body and mind's natural ebbs and flows can parado...

Today I noticed that usually, coughing is nothing more than needing to scratch an itch in your throat, where fingers can't (or shouldn't!) reach. The cough is like scratching it with muscular contractions and air. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that things are often different than we assume based on our surface-level understanding. What seems to serve one purpose may actually hav...

Today I noticed that at my gym, the urinals don't need water to flush. I don't understand how that works, but it does. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that there are innovative solutions to problems that may defy our conventional understanding, and yet they work. Somehow. WANT MORE? Members at johnnybtruant.substack.com get extra episodes of the podcast , behind-the-scenes peeks,...

Today I noticed that talented people often downplay or don't believe fully in their talents. The things they do that are extraordinary are ordinary to them, and they think "anyone could do this" even though most people never could. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that competence isn’t immune to a lack of self-awareness … in this case, about one's own amazing abilities. When someth...

Today I noticed that I've been telling the wrong audiences about the wrong aspects of my business: telling the writers about my new books that only readers would care about, and talking about the creative process with readers - things that only writers would care about. I just assumed everyone is interested in everything, but that's not true. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that t...

Today I noticed that the Broadway show Wicked retold a familiar story from a completely different character perspective than The Wizard of Oz , and made us see a whole different side of the story. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that shifting perspective and telling a well-known narrative through a new lens can reveal profound new insights and depth that drastically alter the orig...

Today I noticed that despite being watered and getting sun, the plant on my desk never gets any bigger. This species can grow quite large but is not. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that sometimes even when the basic requirements are met, environmental factors or circumstances can still prevent growth and the full realization of potential … for creatives and characters as much as...

Today I noticed that my climbing gym, which had banned traditional powdered chalk in favor of liquid chalk during COVID, now allows powdered chalk again. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that while emergency circumstances may necessitate reactive, short-term systemic shifts, going back to earlier ways always lurks in the background. WANT MORE? Members get extra episodes of the podc...

Today I noticed that the only real distinction between illegally-profited-from fan fiction and officially licensed/authorized derivative works is only the amount of time passed since the original property's creation. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that concepts of creative ownership and legitimacy are more contextual than we usually think. WANT MORE? Members get extra episodes of...

Today I noticed that even though I thought dentists didn’t provide nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") anymore, it turns out they do. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is to not assume, and to question the sources of our thoughts. Supposed "knowns" can persist as remnants of outdated knowledge. WANT MORE? Members get extra episodes of the podcast , extra companion blog posts (see below), an...

Today I noticed that the famous bluebonnet flowers on Texas roadsides each spring seem like they might be being eclipsed by a multiplying orange flower among them. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that things always change … period. WANT MORE? Members get extra episodes of the podcast , extra companion blog posts (see below), and more every week … all for the price of a fancy coffe...

Today I noticed that after experiencing a total solar eclipse, the most impressive stuff, by a long shot, only happens during totality, when the moon fully covers the sun. The other 99% of the eclipse is interesting, but pales in comparison. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that there can be transcendent moments when everything converges in a special way, but they’re fleeting compa...

Today I noticed when editing transcripts of my own spoken words how much my verbal communication differs from how I express myself in writing. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that different modes and contexts of expression can reveal distinct sides of a communicator's voice, personality, and mindset. We present variations of ourselves naturally depending on the medium. WANT MORE?...

Today I noticed that even after taking long breaks from running, I don't seem to lose much cardiovascular endurance. When I start up again after weeks or months off, running still feels relatively easy, which is weird. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that some skills, experiences, and attributes can become deeply ingrained parts of us that last longer than we might assume, even wh...

Today I noticed that in Chicago, everyone honks their horns constantly and often for no real purpose. This was culture shock, seeing as in Austin, you don’t hear much honking at all. It guess it’s a different cultural norm between the two. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that local customs and behaviors (even small ones) can greatly impact the texture of a setting. Watching for th...

Today I noticed that I’ve been misspelling the names of two different people for a long time without them ever correcting me. As someone who values having my own name spelled correctly, I was embarrassed afterrealizing my mistake that they had allowed to continue without saying anything. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that small gestures of clarifying details, even if initially a...

Today I noticed that in a TV show episode I've seen many times before, a character who gets shot actually dies — something I had completely overlooked somehow before now. Not sure how I missed it … The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that even when we think we know a story inside and out, maintaining a fresh perspective can reveal overlooked nuances and details. Complacency leads us t...

Today I noticed how many things now require almost no human interaction, like ordering food at Panera and McDonald’s through computer kiosks. Simple encounters that once involved human interaction now require virtually none at all. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that while increased efficiency has benefits, we should keep an eye on how replacing human connection with technology i...

Today I noticed that as an author selling books, my entire business model just underwent a paradigm shift. Instead of primarily selling through third-party retailers, I'm now launching books first on Kickstarter , then selling directly through my own online store , and only then putting my books up on places like Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that crea...

Today I noticed that the 1978 movie Jaws , totally holds up despite being 45 years old. It’s still fresh and gripping today, and for the most part hasn’t become dated (or lost its intensity) over time. The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that truly iconic creative works are timeless. Stories that tap into primal human experiences like fear, courage and nature's power have resonance th...

Today I learned that kids are sort of like planes. When we were talking about letting our kids do their own thing, my friend gave me an interesting metaphor: not worrying about his daughters dating was like taking his first flight in a plane he had rebuilt. At some point with the plane, he had to trust that he’d done all he could, and the plane would either fly or not based on the work he’d done p...